Material handling apparatus



April 26, 1932. H. L. BLOOD ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS FiledSept. 22 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I flaw/d 1. 5/004 April 1932- H. BLOOD ETAL 1,855,877

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q I a0/ Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD LANGLEY BLOOD, OP OAK PARK, AND HERBERT OLOF OLSON, OF LA GRANGE PARK, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MATERIAL HANDLING- APPARATUS Application filedSeptember 22, 1927. Serial No. 221,312.

This invention relates tomaterial handling apparatus, and moreparticularly to reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus for strandworking mechanisms.

A strand working mechanism wherein this invention has been foundparticularly useful is a strand twisting machine of the general typedisclosed in U. S. Patent 1,617,427 of February 15, 1927, whichcomprises a frame or flyer mounted to rotate, upon a vertical I axis andcarrying a plurality of strand supply reels mounted upon verticallyrotatable yokes radially disposedupon the flyer, the reel arbors beinghorizontally supported. In the operation of twisting the strands thesupply reels rotate upon their own axes as the strands are withdrawntherefrom and simul taneously therewith are each bodily rotated withtheir supporting yoke in the horizontal plane about the vertical axis ofthe yoke' ysupporting and 100 'ng a reel arbor in operative position;upon a material working machine and one which permits an expedi- 1.tious replacement ofitheireels when empty;

invention 'as pa machine ofth'e;

- Inaccordancej-with oneeinbodimentofthis movablecto permitniounting ofand removtamed stationary f-relative' to t elatter 1 by spring' pressedplimgers which areentered in one of a plurality of notches-provided inthe peripheriesof the-bearings. Studs" at "opposite ends of,thefarborprojecting into ax al 1 op nings in the rollerbearings serve E'l dl' it'oja strand is i g erinbeio 'ref red to typ the suppoi' infirborcarriesat each end a roller b arin 0am: which is readilyiretheroller hearings to the half bearings, one

of the studs being adjustable to permit the mounting and replacement ofthe arbor carrying the reel. Secondary locking devices for securing thearbor and the roller bearings to the half bearings comprise a pair oflatchable spring controlled-pivotal clamping levers having hardenedsteel cam shaped shoes which engage the periphery of each of the outersleeves of the roller bearings, the pivots for the levers beingadjustable to provide for slight constructional or other variations,such as wear on the shoes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appearfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings; in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevationof a strand twisting machine having the reel arbor supporting andlocking apparatus of this invention embodied therein;

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentar view of the left hand side of Fig. 1,part y in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right side of'Fig. I,partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a-vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like referencenumeralsdesignatesimilar parts throughoutthe several views and wherein thisinvention has been applied to a strand twisting machine of the generaltype hereinbefore referred to, a" base 10 supports at either, end avertical upright 11 upon the upper ends of which is carried a horizontalspacing member (not shown), the whole constituting a framework forsupporting various elements of the machine, including capvstans fordrawing the strands through the machine,and delivering them to suitabletakeup reels ;not shown). Suitably journaled upon the ramework midway ofthe vertical u rights 11 is a vertically disposed shaft 12 w ic receivesrotary motion through a gear train connected to an electrical motor (notshown)- carried upon the framework at its upper end. Secured to rotatewith the shaft 12 is a flyer 13 comprising unpper and lower horizontalmembers 14 and 15, respectively, and vertical connecting members 16' and17. The flyer 13 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing (not shown)carried in a housing 20, the axis of which is coincident with the axisof the shaft 12. Within the lower horizontal flyer member 15 is asuitable gear train (not shown) which in cooperation with a stationargear (not shown) secured to the base an in axial alignment with theshaft 12 serves to rotate vertical stud shafts 21.journaled uponopposite ends of the member and extending upwardly from the uppersurface thereof. Attached to the upper end of each of the shafts 21 is ayoke 22. The upper ends of the yokes 22 are rotatably journaled upon theopposite ends of the upper horizontal member 14. The yokes 22 each carrya reel 25 holding a supply of strand to be twisted, the reels beingmounted upon the horizontally disposed arbors 26, one of the arborsbeing shown fragmentarily in Fig. 2. In the operation of the twistingmachine the shaft 12 is caused to rotate and with it the flyer 13carrying the yokes 22. These yokes, however, also rotate on their owiiaxes, either in the same direction or in the opposite direction, and atthe same time the reels 25 are caused to rotate on their own axespreferably in opposite directions by the strands as they are drawnupwardly therefromby the capstans previousl twisted together at a'pointat which they converge (not shown) above the flyer 13. Since thetwisting machine, which is shown fragmentarily, is of a well known typeand forms no part of this invention, it is thought that a more detaileddisclosure and description thereof is unnecessary.

As the reel arbor supporting and locking devices to be presentlydescribed and associated with each yoke are'identical in each instance,the following detailed description, although applying to both yokes,will be best understood by considering the left hand yoke 22 (Fig.1).

U n the innenopposed vertical faces of the'yoke 22 intermediate the endsthereof are secured half bearings or journals 27 and 28 (Figs. 2, 3 and5)'L"1 A1centrally disposed circular a rtured bracket'29 integral witheach of t e journals is bolted to the yoke within a depression 32 formedin its inner wall. Fixed within an aperture formed in the left handvertical wall of the left hand yoke 22 (Fig. 2) is a stationaryshouldered stud mentioned (not shown) Thus the stran s from the tworeels 25 are 33 having pinned upon its reduced inner end a spacingcollar 34, the extreme inner end of the stud extending therefrom asuitable distance, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.Secured to the right hand vertical wall of the left hand yoke 22 withinthe depression 32 is a flanged shouldered bushing 37 provided with ascrew threaded central aperture 38 within which is mounted acorrespondingly threaded shouldered adjustable stud 39. Formed axiallyin the stud 39 in its reduced right end is a depression 40 which issquare in cross-section for the insertion of a suitable key wrench (notshown) when it is desired to adjust the stud 39. To prevent theadjustable stud 39 from rotating in the bushing 37 after an adjustment,a locking device 41 is provided, best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, whichcomprises the following: The reduced right end of the stud 39 isprovided with a plurality of equally spaced keyways or slots 44 formedin its peripheral surface, which extend inwardly from the outer end ofthe stud. Reciprocally mounted upon the outer vertical face of the yoke22 is a plate 45 provided with a tooth 46 arranged to enter the keyways44 of the stud 39. The plate 45 is maintained against the face of theyoke and guided in its vertical movement by a strap 47 fixed to theyoke. The upper end of the plate 45 extends above the upper end of thestrap 47 and pivotally attached thereto is a lever 48 provided with aneccentric portion 51 arranged to engage the uppersurface of the strap47. -Mounted in a pocket 52 formed in the plate 45-is a compressionspring 53 having one end rest- Iing against a pin 54 fixed to the strap47 and itsoth'erend'against the lower end. wall of the pocket. 'It willbelappa're'nt that due to the actionof the spring 53 the plate 45 willbe normally urged downwardly to engage the tooth 46 thereof in one ofthe keyways'44 of the stud 39. When it is desired to withdraw the tooth46 from its keyway 44 the lever .48 is turned upon its pivot. and due tothe eccentric portion 51 thereof engaging the upper surface of thestrap47, the plate 45 is moved upwardly. The inoperative position of thelocking device 41 is clearly shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

Carried by the arbor 26-at either end thereof are roller bearing units55 and 56, the bearing 55 being attached to thearbor by a pin 54, dottedoutline Fig. 2, extending through the inner sleeve of the bearing andthe arbor. In Fig. 5 is illustrated an end view of the bearing 56 whichis very similar to the bearing 55, an inner sleeve 60 thereof beingsecured to the arbor 26 by a spline 61 to prevent relative rotationtherebetween, but permitting a quick removal of the hearing as a unitfrom the arbor when replacing a reel 25. To maintain the bearing 56 infixed longitudinal position upon the arbor 26, the

latter is equipped with a spring pressed stud 62 which engages in anaperture 63 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the axial openingof the inner sleeve. To remove the I bearing unit 56 from the arborafter its removal from the half bearings 27 and 28 it is merelynecessary to pull it with sufficient force longitudinally alon thearbor, the stud 62 moving back out of teaperture 63 and the spline 61permitting a free longitudinal movement between the arbor and thebearing. The bearings 55 and 5.6 are each provided with an outer sleeve66 which rests within and closelyfits the concaved surface of the halfbearings 27 and 28 and are each prevented from rotating thereon byspring pressed studs 67 mounted in the lower portion of the bearings 27and 28 and engaging in one of a plurality of equall spaced keyways orslots 68 formed in t e peripheral :;urfaces of the outer sleeves 66. Theouter vertical walis of the outer sleeves 66 of the bearings 27 and 28are provided with axial opmings 69 into which the reduced inner ends ofthe stationary and adjustable studs and 39, respectively, are enteredwhen the a rhor 26 with the roller bearing units 55 and 56 and the reel25 are mounted in operative position upon the half bearings 27 and 28.

Secondary locking devices 70 for securing the arbor 26 and memberscarried thereby to the half bearings 27 and 28 comprise the following:As one of the locking devices 70 is associated. with each end of thearbor 26 and as they are identical in structure and operation, thefollowing description is to be applied to both of them. Referringparticularly to Figs. 3 and 4, a lever 73 is pivotally supported upon aneccentric stud 74 rotatably adjustable in a boss 75 formed on the innervertical wall of the yoke v22. The free end of a lower long arm of thelever 73 carries a hardened steel shoe 77 having its extreme lower orengaging surface cam shaped, which in its operative clamping or lockingposition, which is the extreme left dotted outline position thereof asshown in Fig. 3, engages the periphery of the outer sleeve 66 of theroller bearing unit 56 with a wedging action. Pivotally' connected tothe free end of an upper short arm of the lever 73 which is bifurcatedis a bar 81 which isslidably mounted in an apertured plug or cap 82screw threaded into an aperture 83 provided in the front vertical wallof the yoke 22. Surrounding the bar 81 between the inner end surface ofthe plug 82 and a flange 84 formed on the bar is a compression spring87, which it will be apparent normally acts to rock the lever 73clockwise to engage the cam shaped shoe 77 with the outer sleeve 66 ofthe roller bearing unit 56, the cam surface of the shoe insures thetaking up of all play between the several parts and thus serves to causethe positive clamping of the roller bearing unit in the half bearin Thelower surface of the bar 81 is notc ed to provide a latching surface 88,which in the non-operative position of the locking device 70, as shownin dotted outline in Fig. 3, is latched over the outer peripheral edgeof the aperture in the plug 82. Secured to the upper end of the bar 81extending through the plug 82 is a hand grip member 89. It will beapparent that upon grasping the member 89 and pulling outwardly and thenpressing downwardly to latch the bar 81 over the edge of the plug 82,the shoe 77 will be withdrawn from its operative posit-ion with theouter sleeve 66 of the roller bearing unit 56 to the right hand dottedout line position thereof (Fig. 3), and in such position the spring willact to hold the bar in its latched position until released by a slightlyoutward and then an upward movement thereof. It is to be understood thatthe notched latching surface 88 formed in the bar 81 is suitably shapedso as to permit a downward movement of the bar in the aperture of theplug 82 when the outer edge of the latching surface is outside of theplug.

The lever 73 is pivoted upon an eccentric portion of the stud 74 so thatprovision may be had for slight constructional or other variations, suchas wear on the shoe 77, it being desirable to maintain a predeterminedoperative relation between the shoe and the peripheral surface of theouter sleeve 66 and the roller bearing units. The means for adjustingthe eccentric stud 74 and locking it in the desired position comprisesthe following: The stud 74 is formed with an eccentric portion 90uponwhich the lever 73 is pivoted, an intermediate shouldered portion of thestud being entered in an aperture of the boss 75 and a reduced endportion extending from the outer surface of the boss has a nut 91threaded thereon. Secured against relative rotation upon the reduced endportion of the stud 74 is a locking collar or washer 92, a pin 93 fixedto the stud being entered in a slot formed in the washer. The washer 92is provided with a plurality of concentrically disposed apertures 94arranged to be aligned with a pin 95 extending from the outer surface ofthe boss 75. The nut 91 serves to hold the washer 92 in its set positionand thereby the eccentric stud 74 in its adjusted position. When it isdesired to readjust the stud 74 the nut 91 is removed from the stud andthereafter upon disengaging the washer 92 from the pins 93 and 95 itwill be apparent that the stud 74 is free to be rotated in the boss 75and due to the eccentric portion 90 upon which the lever 73 is pivotedthe shoe 77 attached to the latter will be raised or lowered topredeterminedly engage the pe- 'ripheral surface of the roller bearingunit. The rotation of the stud may be readily accomplished by applying awrench to the left headed end thereof (Fig. 4). To lock the stud 74 inits adjusted position the washer 92 is again moved to its lockingposition, the pin 93 in the stud being aligned with the slot of thewasher and one of the apertures 94 of the washer with the pin 95 carriedby the boss 75 and thereafter the nut 91 is threaded onto the stud whichprevents displacement of the locking washer 92 therefrom.

In order to maintain a uniform tension on the strand to be twisted as itis unwound from the reel 25 in the operation of the machine,

a brake device 97 of a well known type comprising adjustable brake bands98 is interposed between one head of the reel 25 andthe stationary outersleeve 66 of the associated roller bearing unit. The action of the brakedevice 97 is such that suitable frictional contact is exerted betweenthe rotating brake bands 98 and the peripheral surface of the stationaryouter sleeve of the bearing unit to exert a substantially uniformtension on the strand as it is withdrawn from the reel.

The operation of the reel arbor supporting and locking apparatuscomprising the adjustable stud 39 with its individual locking device 41and the latchable spring controlled pivotal locking devices 7 0 whenreplacing the reels 25 when empty is as follows:

The twisting machine is stopped with the fiyer 13 and the yoke 22carrying the reel 25 to be replaced in such a position that an operatormay conveniently and expeditiously proceed to make the replacement. Thepreferred position of the left hand yoke 22 for instance, as viewed inFig. 1, which may be considered the front of the machine, is to have theyoke turned 45 upon its own axis, from the position shown, toward theleft so as to position the depression 40 in the adjustable stud 39toward the front. lVith the yoke 22 in this latter position the operatorgrasps the hand grips 89 of the locking devices and latches them aspreviously described and shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, thusreleasing the cam shoes 77 from the roller bearing units 55 and 56.Thereafter the operator inserts a suitable key wrench in the depression40 of the adjustable stud 39 with his right hand and with his left handrocks the eccentric lever 48 to its dotted line position (Fig. 3) whichserves to retract the tooth 46 of the plate 45 from engagement with oneof the slots 44 in the peripheral surface of the stud 39. \Vhile. thelever 48 is held in its nonoperative position the operator turns theadjustable stud 39 with the key wrench until the reduced inner end ofthe stud is moved out of the opening 69 in the roller bearing 56- 69 inthe roller bearing 55. The roller bearing 56 is then removed from thearbor 26 by pulling it with suflicient force longitudinally along thearbor, as previously described, to release the spring pressed stud 62(Figs. 2 and 5) mounted in the arbor from the aperture 63 formed in theinner sleeve of the roller hearing. The empty reel 25 is then removedand replaced by a full one, the roller bearing 56 again positioned onthe arbor and the whole positioned in the half bearings 27 and 28 withthe stationary stud 33 engaged in the opening 69 of the roller bearing55. The operator then rocks the eccentric lever 48 to hold the tooth 46away from the keyways 44 of the adjustable stud 39 and proceeds to turnthe stud 39 in the manner previously described but in the oppositedirection to move the reduced inner end thereof into the opening 69 inthe roller bearing 56, the lever 48 thereafter being released. Due tothe plurality of keyways 44 in the stud 39 it is only necessary to turnthe stud one-eighth of a revolution in case the tooth 46 does not atfirst engage in a keyway upon being released. The locking devices 70 arenow unlatched by disengaging the latching surfaces 88 from the caps 82,whereupon the spring 8'? acts to bring the cam shoes 7 7 into operativeengagement with the peripheral surface of the roller bearing units 55and 56. This completes the description of operation of unlocking andremoving the arbor 26 with the empty reel 25 thereon from the halfbearings and its replacement, along with a full reel and the relockingthereof upon the half bearings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a compound reelarbor supporting and locking apparatus has been provided which is veryefit'ective for retaining the arbor in position upon the half bearingsin all planes, notwithstanding the severe stresses and strains producedby the combined rota tions of the flyer, yokes and reels and one whereinthe reels may be expeditiously removed and replaced.

Although this invention has been disclosed and described as applied to aparticular type of machine for handling strand, it is clear that it mayhave a more general application and that modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, members at eitherend thereof for rotatably supporting and maintaining an arbor extendingthrough the core of a reel in a predetermined longitudinal position, alongitudinally adjustable stud in axial engagement with one of themembers, one of the members being removable for permitting a replacementof the reel on the arbor, and

means cooperating with the outer surfaces of the members for locking themembers against movement in all planes.

2. In a reelarbor supporting and locking apparatus, means at eit er endthereof for rotatably supporting and maintaining an arbor extendingthrough the core of a reel in a predetermined longitudinal position, thmeans including a longitudinally adjustable member and a removablemember at one end for permitting a removal of the arbor for replacing areel thereon, and means including latchable cam surfaced members bearingupon the outer surfaces of stationary elements of the before mentionedmeans for locking the same from movement in all planes.

3. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings arranged upon the arborat opposite ends of the reel, supporting members for the bearings, andnormally stationary studs carried by the sup porting members forengaging Within axial apertures provided in the bearings, one of thestuds being longitudinally adjustable.

4. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings Which include inner andouter sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel,

the inner sleeves being secured to the arbor,-

' supporting means for the bearings, normally stationary studs carriedby the supporting means for engaging within axial apertures provided inthe outer sleeves of the bearings, one of the studs being longitudinallyadj ustable, and a spring actuated plunger arranged to engage within adepression formed in the outer surface of the latter stud to retain itin its ad'usted position. 7

5. A reel supporting and locking appara tus comprising an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel, aspring actuated plunger operatively associated with the arbor and theinner sleeve of one of the bearings to permit a ready removal of thehearing from the arbor for replacing a reel thereon, means forsupporting and maintaining the outer sleeves stationary, and normallystationary studs carried by the supporting means for engaging withinaxial apertures provided in the bearings, one of the studs beinglongitudinally adjustable.

6. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel, theinner sleeves being rotatably secured to the arbor, means for supportingthe bearings, spring actuated plungers carried by the supporting meansand cooperating with de- Dressions formed in the outer surfaces of thouter sleeves for maintaining the latter stationary relative to thesupporting means, latchable clamping members bearing upon the outersurfaces of the outer sleeves for locking the bearings from lateral andlongitudinal movement in all planes upon their supporting means, andmeans for adjusting theclamping members to provide a predeterminedoperative relation with the outer sleeves.

7. In a reel arbor supporting and lockin apparatus, an arbor adapted toextend through the core of a reel, bearings disposed concentric withsaid arbor at the ends thereof, supporting means, and studs carried bysaid supporting means and extending into said bearings for pivotallysupporting said bearlngs.

8. In a reel arbor supporting and lockin apparatus. an arbor adapted toexten through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outersleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleevesbeing secured to said arbor, and studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves.

9. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted toextend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, and means whereby one of said studs may be movedlongitudinally for releasing the bearing mounted thereon.

10. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, one of said studs being movable relative to said outersleeves, and means for holding said movable stud against movement.

11. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel,-bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, one of said studs being adjustable, and cam actuatedmeans for holding said adjustable stud against movement.

12. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, a supportingmember, an arbor adapted to,extend through the core of a reel, bearingsdisposed concentric with said arbor at the ends thereof, studs carriedby said sup porting member and extending into said bearings, meanswhereby one of said studs may be moved longitudinally in said supportingmember relative to its adjacent bearing, and m ans carried by saidsupporting member for holding said movable stud against movement.

13. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, a supportingmember, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearingsdisposed concentric with said arbor at the ends thereof, studs carriedby said supporting member and extending into said bearings, meanswhereby one of said studs may be moved longitudinally in said supportingmember relative to its adjacent bearing, means carried by saidsupporting member for holding said movable stud against movement, and anannular flange disposed upon said movable stud and adapted to abut saidadjacent bearing for holding said bearing against lateral movement.

14. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, and levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearingsfor locking said bearings against vertical displacement. v

15. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, levers adapted to engage the outer sleeves of saidbearings for locking said bearings against vertical displacement, andresilient means for holding said levers in engagement with said outersleeves.

16. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearings forlocking said bearings against vertical displacement, resilient means forholding said levers in engagement with said outer sleeves, and meanswhereby said levers may be moved out of engagement of said outer sleevesfor releasing said bearings.

17. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adaptedto extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner andouter sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said innersleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving saidouter sleeves, levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearings forlocking said bearings against vertical displacement, resilient means forholding said levers in engagement with said outer sleeves, means wherebysaid levers may be moved out of engagement of said outer sleeves for re-HAROLD LANGLEY BLOOD. HERBERT OLOF OLSON.

